April 14, 2006

MGH Biostatistics Center celebrates 20th anniversary

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the MGH Biostatistics Center, which was founded in 1986 with David Schoenfeld, PhD, as its director to provide statistical support for clinical and laboratory research at the MGH. Biostatistics involves the theory and application of techniques for describing, analyzing and interpreting health data from research studies.

Since its founding, the center has grown to its current staff of 26 (shown at right) and has formed collaborations with many other hospital departments — including the Clinical Research Program, the Mallinckrodt General Clinical Research Center, the Institute for Health Policy and the Cancer Center. Members of the center have lent their expertise to research projects in a wide variety of fields — such as endocrinology, cardiology, psychiatry, cancer, HIV/AIDS, neurology and trauma.

"MGH is a great place for biostatisticians because of the exciting research carried out by our clinical and laboratory investigators," says Dianne Finkelstein, PhD, of the center. "We are happy to contribute to many of the hospital's largest clinical research programs."

The Biostatistics Center will celebrate its anniversary with a special celebration to be held in June. For more information about the center, visit hedwig.mgh.harvard.edu/biostatistics.